With the absence of injured Neymar, the Brazilian team makes its first match of the year against Colombia for the World Cup qualifiers betting on the good phase of striker Raphinha, the highlight of Barcelona of the season.
The match against the Colombians led by midfielder James Rodríguez will take place this Thursday (20), at 21h45 (Brasília time), at Mané Garrincha Stadium, in Brasilia. Globo, SporTV and Globoplay convey the match.
In the first leg, in November 2023, still under the command of Fernando Diniz, Brazil lost 2-1, with two goals from Luis Díaz. Gabriel Martinelli discounted.
Brazil is the current fifth place in the qualifying table, a position below Colombia. The first six guarantee direct place in the World Cup. The seventh still disputes a recap.
Following, the national team travels to Buenos Aires to face on Tuesday (25) Argentina, who will also be embezzled by Lionel Messi-the star was out of the call by an injury to the left thigh.
Lacking convincing performances that cheer up the fans in the stands, the team led by Dorival Júnior still struggles to find the best way to take advantage of Raphinha’s talent in the field.
With 11 goals in the European Champions League, two of them in the 3-1 win over Benfica that secured Barcelona’s place in the quarterfinals, Raphinha is the top scorer of the current edition of the continental competition.
He also became the Brazilian with more goals in an edition in the history of the competition, surpassing Roberto Firmino, Neymar, Kaka, Rivaldo and Jardel, with ten.
At the Catalan club since 2022, Raphinha has risen production from mid -last year, especially with the arrival of coach Hansi Flick. The German coach exchanged the 28 -year -old athlete from the right to the left of the attack, and began to give the Brazilian more minutes than predecessor Xavi.
In the current scheme, Raphinha is the team’s vice-scorer of the season, with 27 goals in 42 games, behind only Robert Lewandowski with 35.
With 20 more assists of the season, the Brazilian striker recently had his name quoted for the Golden Ball awards, from France Football magazine. Kaka, in 2007, was the last Brazilian to win the dispute.
In the Brazilian team, however, with Vinicius Junior on the left and Rodrygo on the right, Dorival Júnior has used a raphinha in the frame of the plays, slightly more backward at the entrance of the large area, behind the center forward.
When returning to the national team, Neymar should resume the role of arming the plays and serving his companions, allowing the raphinha a freer performance, such as Barcelona. Until then, however, the attacker should continue to sacrifice in a position where he does not yield so much, while the coach tries to give the yellow-green team more consistency.
“Raphinha in the Copa America has been much questioned. Today, he is one of the postulants to fetch the Golden Ball. He has played with us as a side, as striker by the right and left sides, as a second man or very close to Igor Jesus. In any role, he adapts very well. And has been showing it in Barcelona, often changing position,” Dorival said in an interview with journalists after the call.
The coach took office in early 2024 with the mission of ending predecessor Fernando Diniz’s bad phase and had a promising start, with victory against England in Wembley and a draw with Spain at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Following, however, the team failed to gear and found it difficult to perform consistent performance on the pitch.
The formation ended up eliminated early by Uruguay in the quarterfinals of the Copa America on penalties, and would still bitter results disappointing by the qualifiers, with defeat to Paraguay and a draw with Venezuela.
Brazil x Colombia (World Cup qualifiers)
Brazil: Alisson; Vanderson, Marquinhos, Gabriel Magalhães and Guilherme Arana; Bruno Guimarães, Gerson, Savinho and Raphinha; Rodrygo and Vinicius Junior
Technician: Dorival Júnior
Colôbia: Camilo Vargas; Muñoz, Dávinson Sánchez, Luummí and Mojica; Juan Portilla, Richard Ríos, Jhon Arias and James Rodríguez; Luis Diaz and Borré
Technician: Néstor Lorenzo
Referee: Alexis Herrera (Ven)
Stadium: Mané Garrincha (DF)
